London tech firms double in three years
THE NUMBER of tech and digital companies in London has ballooned 76 per cent in the three years to 2012, while jobs in the industry are up 16.6 per cent, figures out today showed.
Tech firms now employ more than half a million people in the capital in 88,125 companies, and drive 27 per cent of the city’s jobs growth, stats published by Tech City UK to celebrate its third anniversary showed.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Tech City “serves not only as an example of how a city can be transformed into an engine for growth and innovation, but it is also a blueprint for fostering growth that has been recognised globally”.
The government plans to broaden the criteria for its exceptional talent visas to help tech staff move to the UK.
Tech City UK also announced today the second tranche of firms featured in its Future 50 programme.
The latest fast-growing companies to be given support and advice include Shazam, the music app; Graze, a healthy snacks producer; and SecretSales.com.
Keyboard app SwiftKey, Matches Fashion and Photobox also feature.